And with apartments available from around 144,000, it's easy to see why Irish investors might be tempted.

Having moved to Edinburgh five years ago, Macmillan became familiar with the property scene and decided to offer her services to Irish investors looking towards Scotland.

"When I moved to Edinburgh, it was really a case of trial and error until I found my feet and made some contacts. Since then, I have worked on a range of properties, from old tenements that needed to be done up, which are very much in demand here, to furnishing top-of-therange new builds. And through word of mouth we have dealt with an increasing number of Irish people looking to buy investments over here, " says Macmillan.

Currently, an apartment in Edinburgh costing around 144,000 would bring in an average rent of about 650 per month. A university city, Edinburgh has a strong rental culture, another reason why investors are apparently turning towards this city.

Macmillan says her company can source property for clients and pinpoint good investment opportunities direct from builders, including gross rental deals. Some builders guarantee rents ranging from 6% to 10%, from a period of one to three years.

"Thousands of Irish people realise the value of investing in property overseas, but understandably they are cautious about where to put their hard-earned money. Long-distance buying can be daunting" Further information from www. ambience-homes. co. uk or 0044-7742 125813.